Mbongeni Ngema

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Mbongeni Ngema (b. 1955 - ) a South African writer, lyricist, composer and director was born in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal (near Durban). He started his career as a theatre backing guitarist.

He is married to actress Leleti Khumalo. Leleti who received a 1988 Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for Sarafina; as well as starring as the leading role in South Africa's first Oscar-nominated film/move, Yesterday.

In some sectors of South African society, Ngema is considered a racist because of his controversial song, AmaNdiya (about racism that Blacks in KwaZulu-Natal have suffered at the hands of Indians). It was banned in the country soon after it was released in 2002, and even Nelson Mandela had asked Ngema to apologize but Ngema refused.

[edit] Productions

  • Asinamali (1987)
  • Sarafina (1988)
  • Magic at 4 AM (1993)
  • Circle Of Life (African voices) (1995)
  • Mama (1996)
  • Sarafina 2 (1997)
  • Nikeziwe (2005)
  • The House of Shaka (2006)

[edit] Honors and Awards

  • 1987 Tony Award - Asinamali! was nominated for Best Direction of a Play
  • 1988 Tony Award - Sarafina was nominated 3 times for Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Original Score

In 2004 he was voted 92nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans.


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